A 15-year string of center-left governments was on the line Sunday as Uruguay’s Broad Front coalition faced a presidential runoff election challenge from a united opposition.
The National Party’s Luis Lacalle Pou, who lost the presidential runoff five years ago, held a noticeable though apparently single-digit lead over the Broad Front’s Daniel Martínez in polls heading into the vote.
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A 15-year string of center-left governments was on the line Sunday as Uruguay’s Broad Front coalition faced a presidential runoff election challenge from a united opposition.
He’s attacked the administration of current President Tabaré Vázquez for a soft economy, reminding voters that the unemployment rate has risen to 9.2% and that more than 50,000 jobs have been lost in recent years. He has also hammered at rising crime in the country of 3.4 million people and has promised to rein in public spending to curb a rising deficit.
Martinez is a noted cycling enthusiast while Lacalle Pou favors surfing.
Vázquez, a 79-year-old oncologist, announced in August that he had been diagnosed with cancer. His successor’s five-year term starts on March 1.
Presidential candidate for the Broad Front Daniel Martinez greets supporters in Montevideo, Uruguay, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. Martínez, a member of the Socialist Party, represents the more moderate and center-left wing of the Broad Front, which is a coalition of social democrats, communists, Christian democrats and former guerrilla members. (AP PhotoMatilde Campodonico)
A supporter of presidential candidate for the National Party Luis Lacalle Pou rides a motorcycle in Montevideo, Uruguay, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. Lacalle Pou, who lost the presidential runoff five years ago, held a noticeable though apparently single-digit lead over his rival in polls heading into Sunday's presidential runoff election. (AP PhotoMatilde Campodonico)
Lacalle Pou, a 46-year-old lawyer and a former senator, is anything but an outsider. His father is former President Luis Alberto Lacalle and his mother was a senator.
Supporters of presidential candidate for the National Party Luis Lacalle Pou hang a poster along the boardwalk a day ahead of the presidential runoff election, in Montevideo, Uruguay, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. Lacalle Pou, a 46-year-old lawyer and a former senator, is anything but an outsider. His father is former President Luis Alberto Lacalle and his mother was a senator. (AP PhotoMatilde Campodonico)
He’s attacked the administration of current President Tabaré Vázquez for a soft economy, reminding voters that the unemployment rate has risen to 9.2% and that more than 50,000 jobs have been lost in recent years. He has also hammered at rising crime in the country of 3.4 million people and has promised to rein in public spending to curb a rising deficit.
Martínez, a 62-year-old engineer who was recently mayor of Montevideo and previously industry minister, has been reminding voters of his party’s longer record, dating back to 2005. He says that when the Broad Front first came to power, 1 million people were living in poverty, almost one third of the population. That number has plummeted, to 8.1%.
Martínez, a member of the Socialist Party, represents the more moderate and center-left wing of the Broad Front, which is a coalition of social democrats, communists, Christian democrats and former guerrilla members.
Supporters of presidential candidate for the National Party Luis Lacalle Pou wave party banners and national flags a day ahead of the presidential runoff election, in Montevideo, Uruguay, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. Lacalle Pou attacked the administration of current President Tabare Vazquez for a soft economy, reminding voters that the unemployment rate has risen and that more than 50,000 jobs have been lost in recent years. (AP PhotoMatilde Campodonico)
Martinez is a noted cycling enthusiast while Lacalle Pou favors surfing.
Martínez earned the most votes in October’s first round, topping Lacalle Pou 39% to 29%. But the challenger managed to win the support of four parties that were knocked out by that balloting.
Vázquez led the Broad Front to power in 2005, ending dominance by the Colorado and National parties dating back to independence in 1828. The economy was healthy during his first term and that of his successor, José Mujica. But growth has slowed in Vázquez’s second spell as leader, crime has risen, an education reform flopped and Vice President Raúl Sendic was forced to resign in 2017 over corruption allegations.
Supporters of presidential candidate for the Broad Front Daniel Martinez cheer at cars driving past in Montevideo, Uruguay, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. A 15-year string of center-left governments is on the line Sunday as Uruguay’s Broad Front coalition faces a presidential runoff election challenge from a united opposition. (AP PhotoMatilde Campodonico)
Vázquez, a 79-year-old oncologist, announced in August that he had been diagnosed with cancer. His successor’s five-year term starts on March 1.
A supporters of presidential candidate for the National Party Luis Lacalle Pou hands out electoral material in Montevideo, Uruguay, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. Lacalle Pou, who lost the presidential runoff five years ago, held a noticeable though apparently single-digit lead over the Broad Front’s Daniel Martínez in polls heading into the vote Sunday. (AP PhotoMatilde Campodonico)
Presidential candidate for the Broad Front Daniel Martinez greets supporters in Montevideo, Uruguay, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. Martínez, a member of the Socialist Party, represents the more moderate and center-left wing of the Broad Front, which is a coalition of social democrats, communists, Christian democrats and former guerrilla members. (AP PhotoMatilde Campodonico)
A supporter of presidential candidate for the National Party Luis Lacalle Pou rides a motorcycle in Montevideo, Uruguay, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. Lacalle Pou, who lost the presidential runoff five years ago, held a noticeable though apparently single-digit lead over his rival in polls heading into Sunday's presidential runoff election. (AP PhotoMatilde Campodonico)